Rare Renaissance Dresser - 16th Century - Museum Furniture

Rare Renaissance dresser The medieval dresser is a piece of furniture in two parts: the lower part is empty, the upper part is full and closed. During the Renaissance, the dresser is closed in the lower part and takes on a decorative character linked to the antique. Our dresser is decorated with abundant sculpture on the front and sides, the upper part is divided into two doors and three uprights decorated with fluted and ornamented pilasters with capitals. On each door, two grotesque characters are represented and on the sides, the composition is organized around a central motif: floral medallions, framed with cut leathers. Two elongated baluster feet, with deeply fluted shafts, support, in a belt, a row of two drawers decorated with an ovoid decoration. On the sides, two heads of bearded and mustached characters. In the center of the piece of furniture, a Devil's head with large ears, showing its teeth and whose tongue comes out in two pieces going up to the ears. French work Circa 1570 Similar model at the National Renaissance Museum in Ecouen. E.CI.20426 Provenance: old Tarn collection. The piece of furniture was acquired in 1970 for 80,000 francs (Taking into account monetary erosion due to inflation, the purchasing power of 80,000.00 Francs in 1970 is therefore the same as that of 100,000 Euros in 2023 - Source INSEE)